Miriam's Secret (30 page)

“And say hi to Wayne?” Shirley glanced over her shoulder with a grin.

“Sounds
gut
to me!” Miriam shot back, although she could feel her neck get warm. How bold she'd become! It's the money, she told herself. It's given me confidence. But then again, maybe it was the community in Clarita—being in a new place and all. That was the happier thought of the two, and certainly a lot more acceptable than depending on money for strength. In fact, she wanted to forget about the money…even if she had five hundred and twenty dollars in her pocket.

“You're falling hard for Wayne, aren't you?” Shirley teased.

Miriam ignored Shirley's comment by remarking cheerfully, “Let's head back to the car. It's almost time to go.”

Moments later the two stopped beside Mr. Whitehorse's car. Baby Jonathon was nestled in Leola Whitehorse's arms. She was gently cooing to him. Mr. Whitehorse and Leola greeted them with pleased looks. Leola was obviously happy.

“She's always been excellent with our children as well as our grandchildren,” Mr. Whitehorse commented.

“How many grandchildren do you have?” Miriam asked.

He held up five fingers and appeared a bit disappointed. “Children don't have large families nowadays. We had eight ourselves.”

“There will be more,” Leola said as she continued to coo at Jonathon. “At least I keep hoping so.”

“I'll check on Aunt Fannie,” Shirley said. “You can wait here, Miriam.”

Before Miriam could respond, the nearby grocery store doors were pushed open and Aunt Fannie appeared with a cart filled to the brim. Both girls rushed forward to help unload. Mr. Whitehorse got out of the car to open the trunk.

“Why didn't you ask us to help you?” Miriam exclaimed. “I didn't know you had this much shopping to do.”

“Now, now,” Aunt Fannie chided. “I'm just fine. I wanted you girls to spend some time in town doing what you wanted to do without worrying about me.”

“You should have let us help anyway,” Shirley said. “I did find this treasure.” She held up the leather tablet.

Aunt Fannie placed a bag of groceries in the trunk and then took Shirley's find. She examined it carefully and glowed. “Now that is worth a trip to town, isn't it? I'm sure you got it at a bargain.”

“For a dollar!” Shirley beamed. “I went to the dollar store and shopped carefully like any decent Amish woman would.”

Aunt Fannie handed back the tablet. “You'll be a complement to a fine young man someday. Speaking of young men, I never did hear how Thursday night went. I guess I was too taken up with baby Jonathon.”

Mr. Whitehorse was listening with an attentive ear as he loaded the rest of the groceries into the trunk.

Miriam noticed, so she didn't say anything. Shirley bit her lip before she finally replied, “Well, Miriam is off to a running start with the youth group.”

“That's
gut
to hear. I can't say I'm surprised. But what about you, Shirley? Did you enjoy yourself?”

Shirley frowned a bit and wrinkled her brow. “I'd say so. It didn't go quite how I'd hoped, but I'm okay with it.”

“That doesn't sound
gut
,” Aunt Fannie said. “Were the youth nice to you?”

“Yes, Aunt Fannie. Everyone was very welcoming. I'm just spoiled and used to a lot of attention, that's all.”

“She's having a difficult time adjusting,” Miriam said as she stepped back so Mr. Whitehorse could close the trunk lid. She wasn't about to say any more with
Englisha
around. There wasn't that much for her to say anyway.

“Well, it'll go better next time,” Aunt Fannie consoled.

Shirley nodded as if she agreed, but Miriam knew it was because her sister didn't want to discuss the matter further.

They climbed into the car, and Leola handed Jonathon to Aunt Fannie with a smile. “He's such a little darling. Sweet as my own pumpkins were. I'm glad we kept one of the child safety seats our kinner used for their children.”

“That's kind of you to say.” Aunt Fannie kissed Jonathon on his cheek. “We sure love him. And I'm glad too.” She strapped baby Jonathon in, and then fastened her own seat belt. She leaned over and gazed at her precious son. “Lord, bless him and all the other little ones You see fit to give us.”

“May there be plenty!” Mr. Whitehorse seconded as he started the car, pulled out of the parking spot, and headed out of town.

Peaceful silence reigned inside the car as the miles rolled away. Miriam watched the landscape pass to take her mind off the ATM machine and the money in her pocket. The difference in this country from Holmes County was pronounced. It seemed quite like another world. She liked that. The uncrowded feeling and the sense that great vastness lay just beyond. Perhaps that explained why people loved each other deeply on the prairie. At least the community in Clarita did. And even though they were
Englisha
, Mr. Whitehorse and his wife seemed no exception. Even the
Englisha
were affected.

She settled back in the car seat with a sigh. There was peace
here and promise. She could feel it even with the turmoil brought by the sight of all those twenty dollar bills spit out by the ATM. She shouldn't have taken five hundred dollars out. She'd have to spend the money unobtrusively, but how and where? There wasn't anything she needed. Spending frivolously was a fault she didn't wish to add to her character. Perhaps she could give the money away. There ought to be opportunities to do that in the community. Maybe she could leave the money stuck in Mr. Whitehouse's car? Would he be surprised that an Amish woman had that large sum of cash? But then Mr. Whitehorse would ask Aunt Fannie about mislaid money, and soon it would come down to the two sisters. Miriam knew she wouldn't lie about it.

No, it was best to wait. The Lord would help her. In the meantime, she'd think about something else. Sunday lay ahead, and she would see the youth group again. She could imagine it already, and happiness surged inside her. Maybe Shirley would even enjoy herself this time. Wouldn't that be an added blessing? Miriam decided she'd pray for that. And there was Wayne, of course. She might have a chance to speak with him this afternoon after the groceries had been unloaded and Aunt Fannie and baby Jonathon were settled in the house. Shirley could put the groceries in the cupboards while she went out to help Uncle William.

The car bounced as Mr. Whitehorse turned in at the Byler driveway. Wayne's buggy was still in its place, so he was here. Miriam smiled even as she reminded herself not to appear overeager to see him. Yet her heart had softened even further toward Wayne. She wouldn't continue to see wealth as an obstacle between them unless he did something to suggest it. Wayne wasn't like Ivan, who had dated someone else and then wanted to come back when he learned of the inheritance. From all
appearances, Wayne and the community accepted her for her own sake. Someday she might even tell Wayne about the money, although the very thought struck fear in her heart. But now it seemed at least remotely possible to be forthcoming about it.

“What are you thinking about?” Shirley asked as the car came to a stop.

“I'm not saying,” Miriam replied as she opened the door and climbed out of the car. And that was the truth, Miriam told herself. Shirley wouldn't want to know what she'd discovered in her heart.

Shirley glared at Miriam, but thankfully she didn't ask more questions.

Chapter Thirty-One

L
ater that afternoon Miriam slipped through the back door of the greenhouse to see if Uncle William and Wayne needed help. With the parking lot still full, it seemed likely she could do something to help out. She peeked around a tall bunch of bushes.

Uncle William caught sight of her. He rushed over with a big grin on his face. “Glad to see you, Miriam! I thought I'd never get more help this afternoon.”

“I'm sorry about that.” Miriam smiled. “I guess we got carried away with our shopping, and the library, and…” Miriam caught herself before she mentioned the ATM.

“Reading novels while Wayne and I are rushing about here working up a sweat?” Uncle William scolded, but his smile belied his words.

“Well, I'm here now. Put me to work!”

Uncle William waved his hand toward the cash register.
“If you could help check out the items and, when necessary, carry them out to a customer's car that would be great.”

Miriam didn't hesitate. “Sure, wherever I'm needed.”

Her heart pounded when she saw Wayne was running the cash register at the moment. She moved forward and told herself to “act normal.” She liked the man, yes, and he obviously liked her. She would allow herself to be open to whatever God brought about.

“Hi, Miriam!” Wayne called as she approached. “Good to see you. I've been waiting all day for the privilege.” He smiled.

The customer standing at the register with three flowerpots in her hands gave Miriam a kind look. “Help has arrived, I see,” she commented to Wayne.

“And the best kind of help!” Wayne said with enthusiasm. “Let me carry those pots out for you now that we have help. Miriam can run the register.”

Miriam moved around the counter. “You'll have to show me how. I've never operated this brand of cash register. Maybe I should just help carry out purchases. She didn't wait for a response from Wayne. She grabbed the woman's flowerpots and waited as she finished paying the bill. Miriam followed the woman out to her car and watched as she opened the trunk.

The customer turned to Miriam with a smile. “This is the best place for them—if they don't tip over.”

Miriam nodded and set the pots among the grocery bags. She guessed, “Shopping down the road at the Amish store?”

The woman's face glowed. “Yes. Exactly. I love the place and come by here every week, if I can. Wholesome people, you are.”

“We try to be.” Miriam lowered her head. She didn't want to think about the secret money in her pocket, but the thought flashed unbidden through her mind.

“That's such a sweet and humble spirit to have.” The woman closed the trunk lid. “Is that young man your boyfriend?”

As her face got red, Miriam sputtered, “
Ach
,
nee
, not really. See, I'm rather new here and…”

The woman was still smiling. “Well, perhaps when I come by next time, you'll have a different answer.” She winked at Miriam and then climbed into her car and drove away.

Miriam watched the car disappear down the road. What had the woman seen that made her think Wayne was her boyfriend? She pulled her thoughts away from the woman's words and hurried back inside.

“I thought she'd kidnapped you,” Wayne teased.

She looked down. Under no condition would she tell Wayne what the customer had said. Miriam glanced up apologetically. “We got to talking a little and I dawdled. I'm sorry.”

“I was only kidding,” Wayne protested, giving Miriam a genuine and encouraging smile.

The line at the register had grown longer. Miriam grabbed the two hanging baskets the next customer purchased and bolted out the door. She had to pause and wait for the customer to catch up. “Get it together,” Miriam told herself silently. Wayne had her all flustered. Ivan had never affected her this way. Why was Wayne getting to her in the short time she'd been here? She couldn't seem to stop smiling.

When the elderly customer caught up to her, he muttered, “You young people are sure spry. What's the big rush? Don't you Amish have all the time in the world?”

Miriam was instantly contrite. “I'm sorry.”

The man clucked with his tongue. “No apologies necessary. I was just teasing, young lady.”

Miriam held up the baskets and regarded them for a moment. “Who are these for?”

“My wife, of course.” The man laughed. “Did you think I had a girlfriend at my age?”

Miriam winced. “I'm sorry. I was just trying to…”

The man patted her on the arm as he opened his car door. “Don't be so serious. No offense taken. I was teasing again.”